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MAGAZINE FOR ALL SHOTOKAN KARATE ~l_~~~~~~~SHOTOIKeinosuke Enoeda was born on the 4th July 1935 in the city of Fukuoka in the northern part of the island of Kyushu, Japan. He was the second of four children, his father and mother were both descended from samurai linage. His father, a businessman in import/export, was also an excellent athlete, a strong runner, who also practiced kendo. Enoeda sensei's martial arts career began at the age of six when he took up judo, he also practiced kendo. He continued judo up to the age of seventeen reaching nidan level. It was at this time that he witnessed a karate demonstration by two members of Takushoku university (Tokyo) karate senseis Okazaki and Irea. He

Enoeda at Takushoku university in 1953. was so captivated that shortly afterwards (1953)he registered on a four year degree course in business studies at Takushoku - primarily so that he could study karate- do. He was graded shodan after two Enoeda (1972) put the 'Fear of God!' into many students with his fearsome approach to teaching! years at the age of nineteen and two Tetsuhiko Asai who won the event by military and police. Enoeda sensei along years later in 1956, and now sandan, he beating Hiroshi Shirai. In 1962 Enoeda with Nakayama sensei spent several was promoted to captain of the university lost in the final to Shirai and then in 1963 months in Indonesia. Later, Enoeda karate club. Master Masatoshi Nakayama he won this prestigious title, this time toured the USA, Hawaii, South Africa, was his main teacher at Takushoku. beating Shirai with mae geri and gyaku Great Britain and Europe with fellow JKA Master Gichin Funakoshi also instructed zuki. Enoeda also placed fourth on three instructors, Kase, Kanazawa and Shirai. at Takushoku about once a month whilst occasions in the Kata finals with kata, In 1965 he stayed with Stan Schmidt in Enoeda sensei was there. Funakoshi died Bassai sho, Jitte and Sochin. It was South Africa for six months. I spoke to during Enoeda's last year at Takushoku, during this period that he picked up the Stan on the phone from South Africa in 1957. nickname, TaRA - The TIGER, after when he had just got back from Enoeda After receiving a degree in Nakayama sensei said that he had fought sensei's funeral in Japan and he will be Commerce, Enoeda was invited to join like a tiger during a championship. The writing an article in the future about his the elite JKA Instructors course in 1959. 1963 championships were watched by time spent with sensei Enoeda. His main teachers were masters the President of Indonesia, Mr Sukarno During part of 1966 Enoeda assisted Nakayama and Nishiyama. In 1961 he and he was so impressed by Enoeda that Kanazawa in Great Britain. Enoeda reached the semi finals of the All Japan he invited him to Indonesia to instruct his sensei also taught in the USA in 1966 Championships being beaten by personal bodyguards and to teach the with Nishiyama sensei then he came back 4 SHOTOILondon and setting up the world famous Marshall Street dojo in the West End of London, which sadly closed on the 30th Sept 2000. He was also made the Chief instructor to the KUGB (Karate Union of Great Britain) a position he held up until his passing. In an interview in SKM issue No.5, Enoeda said.... "In those days karate in England was very small and the KUGB consisted of only a few clubs mainly in London, Liverpool and other major cities. I believe that the foundation of the KUGB comes from the influence of senior instructors from Liverpool. I remember Terry O'Neill was only a young kid at the time but I particularly remember Andy Sherry who was so keen and never ever missed any training when I was living in 1996, Marshall Street dojo in London. Sensei Enoeda leads 'mokuso'. (photo by Rod Butler). Liverpool. In fact he was so keen that himself, to me also. In the 1970's and me.... "Tell him it's O.K., no one is going early morning he would knock on my door 80's I used to hear people say, "Oh! He's to take it off him!" Someone said and ask for some extra special training. really nice if you get to know him, he's got afterwards on the way home, "Bloody When I started in Liverpool I decided that a great sense of humour." Well, to be Hell, he could eat and drink for Japan!" they should train exactly as we had done truthful, I couldn't see that at the time I think, with all due respect, that in Japan so that this would give them a because on training sessions he was, to unless you were a member of the KUGB good karate foundation." me, and many others... bloody frightening! (Karate Union of Great Britain) at some Enoeda sensei had four Japanese I remember in the mid-70's going for time and trained many times under assistants here in the United Kingdom an Indian meal after a training session Enoeda sensei, then it's hard to imagine over the years, firstly was sensei S. Kato, with a group of students (plus Enoeda) or even believe, what a MASSIVE then H. Tomita, then M. Kawasoe and and I was sat directly opposite him. He IMPACT and INFLUENCE this man could finally sensei Yoshinobu Ohta for the past was like a 'celebrity', at the time. I have on your view of karate. Even though twenty years. Sensei Tomita went back to eventually plucked up the courage (after you had your own club instructor (sensei) Japan, sensei Kato set up his own about three pints of larger) to ask him if and also often trained on courses and organisation here as did sensei Kawasoe. he liked his curry? He said, "Yeah! Good, grading sessions with all the big names in Although I trained under Enoeda good!" and that was it. It was a Vindaloo Shotokan here in the UK, senseis Andy sensei many times, and took 1st, 2nd and and 'very hot', sweat was pouring down Sherry, Terry O'Niell, Bob Poynton, the 3rd Dan under him, I did 'not' know him his forehead and he kept wiping it off with late Steve Cattle, Billy Higgins etc., who personally at all, and like the majority of a napkin, he was really getting 'stuck-in' were all senior KUGB instructors, you readers, this 'memorial tribute' and SKM to his food and the guy sat next to me, in always felt that E:NOEDA was your 'special' has been an insight into the man typical dry Northern humour, whispered to sensei, or rather 'THE' SENSEI. He was the leading light, the inspiration, the driving force, the Boss! For me personally I remember that Enoeda sensei came to Jack Tilley's dojo in Stockport, Cheshire many times during the 1970's and to see Enoeda's karate, in his prime, in a very small dojo was awe inspiring and unforgettable! Jack was an incredibly strong karate-man but he always used to say after Enoeda had gone, "Where does he get his power from?" I remember 'vividly' on one of those classes that I personally 'learned' what traditional karate and the traditional method of 'learning' was all about! And who better to learn it from, as an average, ordinary karate student, than a true MASTER of karate-do - ENOEDASensei. We were doing combinations up and down the dojo, typical Dan-grade combinations. It was a 'joy' to watch Enoeda sensei doing these combinations, ;.--- he'd got it down to perfection! After (1979 Plymouth) Enoeda demonstrates with then assistant, Tomita (photo courtesy of Colin Putt). "Yeme," Enoeda sensei was stood right in 5 SHOTOI

front of me. He was looking directly at me and I thought, "Oh! shit, I'm in trouble here!" Enoeda sensei said to me, "You need to make your combinations smoother," and walked away. After the class (before we went to the pub 'of course') I asked sensei Enoeda.... "Sensei, how can make my combinations smoother?" He smiled, and said, "You'll find a way." I went away and thought about it for months and months, I tried everything, then suddenly the penny droppedl "Bloody well RELAX more, get rid of all that tension man!" Students nowadays want to know everything.... "WHY, HOW, WHAT DO YOU MEAN, SHOW ME'" They miss the whole point and traditional philosophy contained in Enoeda's few, simple words, spoken with a lifetime of karate wisdom .... "You'll find away." When asked about competition in his day, in the 1984 interview, Enoeda said... "It is completely different now, it is still serious but there is now far less emphasis on blocking, more on making winning techniques. In the earfy days, faifure to block properly would result in injury. The fighting then was perhaps more traditional and blows were generally solid like big hammers to the body! Today f think we must keep power in the technique, otherwise if we only think of 'sports' karate it will destroy the real meaning of karate. For instance, we always practiced to make a good punch on the makiwara, hundreds every day. We must always keep in our training the real Sensei Enoeda (1983) performs kata Gojushiho-sho at his annual summer course at meaning of the whole of karate." Crystal Palace, London. (photo by Bernard Rose). In the 1997 interview Enoeda said, 'Shotokan Karate Free 'Traditional Karate-do is a 'martial art' Fighting Techniques' which requires both physical and mental (PH. Crompton 1975). training for the whole mind and body. My He has appeared in objective is to train everyday whatever the many other publications weather or the condition I am in. I never and books by other neglect my daily training. I have never people but these are the missed a day's training since my very only one's he solely young age. There are many benefits starred in. which can be gained with practice, by Thankfully there is both young and ofd throughout your considerable footage of whole life. If you want these benefits then Enoeda sensei on film you should practice in the Traditional way. and video. (See SKM If too much emphasis is placed on sport Video Club advert for karate, you are in danger of missing the older footage). And his whole point of karate training." own marvellous four Sensei Enoeda did not in fact write volume series of videos, many books on karate but I think if there 'Advanced Shotokan is one 'masterpiece' in book form by Kata' from 1996 which Enoeda sensei, it has to be his brilliant also features sensei three volume work from 1983, Yoshinobu Ohta 6th 'SHOTOKAN ADVANCED KATA'. Dan, Enoeda sensei's Unfortunately these are now out of print. Japanese assistant. His masterful technique is clearly evident Sensei Stan Schmidt and his 'spirit' jumps right out of the (JKA South Africa), told pages! This is undoubtedly classic me some stories and Shotokan material and have become anecdotes about Enoeda 'collectors' items. He also 'solely' featured sensei in a recent phone in two other books, 'Karate Defence and conversation: when he Sensei Enoeda's 'dynamic' style wascharacterised by long, deep Attack' (P.H. Crompton 1972) and (Stan) first encountered stances and big, powerful techniques. (photo by Bernard Rose). 6 SHOTOI

months with my family in my home and we trained everyday, mostly in a nearby park and it was 'one on one' - hard training - kihon, kata and sparring techniques. The mood was always buoyant and carefree, however on Friday mornings we went to the dojo where we did serious kumite (free sparring) and that was always big pressure for me but when it was over, it was always joy and laughter over a few beers and anecdotes of his experiences in Japan. One of these was when he visited a restaurant (bar?) in his university days where he was challenged by a boxer to a real fight and he told me... "After the boxer had given me a bloody nose, I braced myself in sochin dachi and as he came bouncing into me I shot my fist forward right through his guard and knocked him out." This was the type of fighting spirit that Sensei Enoeda Always remember. .. Do NOT disturb a 'TIGER' during a Tea-Break! (photo By Rod Butler). Defence against Bo attack, kata Jitte from the possessed... no fear, total commitment 1996 video series. (photo by Rod Butler). coupled with dynamic technique." voice booming out at full volume! "LOVE Enoeda it was at the JKA honbu dojo in Stan said that Enoeda was desperate IS A MANY SPLENDID THING, IT'S THE Tokyo in the early 1960's (1963 I think he to improve his English at the time. Stan APRIL ROSE, THAT ONLY GROWS, IN said). He'd only been training there a said... "So, one day a student of mine THE EARLY SPRING." You could hear short time and one day he was sparring Cecil Wolov recommended that he sing him right down the street and beyond!" with a Japanese student, and Enoeda along with certain records to make the In the summer of 2000 Sensei Enoeda was watching! Stan said that quite by learning of English more enjoyable, and and Stan Schmidt were both teaching on accident (really Stan?) he knocked this that Enoeda should choose a record and the annual summer camp in Philadelphia guy out with a spinning back kick (ushiro learn the words!" Enoeda sensei thought USA, organised by Okazaki sensei. One geri). Enoeda came up to him afterwards this was a great idea and chose, 'Love is morning, very early, about 6am Stan and and said in his broken English... "1 like a many splendid thing'. He played it over Enoeda sensei were walking through the you, you good spirit, I teach you good and over and over ad nauseum! Stan woods (in their karate gi's) whilst on their karate, I give you special training." And a said, "Sensei I have to go out for a couple way to teach on an early morning class. bond was struck between them from that of hours," and off he went, with 'Love is a The sun was filtering through the trees moment on! And Enoeda kept his word many splendid thing' blaring away on the and the birds were singing, it was a and gave him special training. record player! A few hours later he came beautiful, idyllic day. Enoeda sensei said A few years later Enoeda sensei home. Stan said... "I could hear from to Stan, "Isn't it great to be alive Stan, and stayed with Stan in South Africa and about 2 blocks away this Pavarotti type to be so fit and well at our age." Then he taught at his dojo every day. Stan voice ringing out over the roof tops ..... it said, "Stan, will you have a competition Schmidt said... "In 1965 he stayed for 6 was a 'deafening', guttural Japanese with me?" Stan wondered what he was about to let myself in for, but said, "Yes Sensei, of course I will have a competition with you." Enoeda sensei then said, "Let's see who is the fittest in ten years time eh!" It just shows that none of us know what lies ahead. Sensei Enoeda didn't know that he had cancer at that time. It's hard to believe that someone so 'fit', so 'dynamic', so full of 'energy', so blessed with a 'love of life', can be struck down by an enemy so powerful that even the 'spirit' of Sensei Enoeda could not overcome. Master Enoeda sadly died in his home country Japan (he had gone back to Japan at the end of 2002 to have an operation for stomach cancer). Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda married his wife Reiko in 1969 and had two children, a son Daisuke aged 32 and a daughter, Maya aged 27. There's a book of condolence where you are free to add your own message of respect (which is due to be presented to his wife Reiko at Enoeda (right) in South Africa in 1965 with his close friend Stan Schmidt, seen here sparring on the end of the year) it's been set up at: one of their daily training sessions in the local park. (Photo courtesy of Stan Schmidt). (website) www.karatelondon.co.uk 7 SHOTOI

Sensei Enoeda was credited at one time with having the 'strongest' gyaku zuki in alJJapan! from the book, 'Best Karate Kumite 2'..... and zanshin - total concentration, "Keinosuke Enoeda has a reputation intention and awareness! His favourite for achievements that stir the imagination. kata were Bassai Sho, Bassai Dai, Jitte Using the power of thoroughly and Sochin. On the old JKA films from strengthened legs and loins, he delivers around 1960, the young Enoeda performs strikes and kicks of great force, which Bassai Dai and Jitte (SKM Video Club cannot be blocked easily with simple Tape 3). They are simply awesome evasive tactics. His ashi barai (leg sweep), examples of 'power karate'. And which uses the whole body, is very remember that he was placed 4th on strong. Especially amazing is his ability to three consecutive occasions in the JKA cut in deeply, catch his opponent's rear Championships when people like, supporting leg and send him flying. Kanazawa, Asai, Shirai and Mikami were Enoeda has mastered these tactics." in their heyday! So not only was his Masatoshi Nakayama 1979. fighting ability and notorious fighting The 'famous' Enoeda 'mawashi geri'. Marshall Enoeda sensei's Kata can be 'spirit' at the highest world level, but also Street dojo 1997. (photo by Rod Butler). summarised in a few words; spirit, power, his powerful Kata performance. 18 SHOTOI

It's interesting to compare Enoeda sensei's Kata from the early years (early 1960's) when he was in his mid-twenties to his 1996 videos (at the age of 61). The movements became smoother, more fluid, more relaxed, yet the un-questionable 'power' is still in evidence. And the unmistakable 'kiai'.... EEEEEE! Which could put the fear of God into anyone.... it's definitely, THE TIGER- ENOEDA! Enoeda sensei felt passionately about Kata and maintaining its tradition, which is why he wrote the Kata books and later produced the Kata videos. In his 'Introduction to Kata' from his 1983 book, 'SHOTOKAN ADVANCED KATA' Vol 1, Enoeda sensei stated . "The final point about Kata that I would like to bring to your attention is an important one, that nevertheless is often missed, or not recognised for its importance. It is that etiquette is of the utmost importance in Karate-Do, and must be maintained at all times. Therefore, whenever you practice (Kata) do so with modesty, but not timidity. Be ready at all times to express yourself through the Kata you are performing by bringing together your mind, body and the movements of the exercise. Avoid however at all costs becoming preoccupied with the rules and method of the performance of the Kata, to the exclusion of the fighting methods that they contain, the learning of which were, and are, the principal purpose of these important and exacting exercises." In full flow, Enoeda sensei's 'special' demonstration kata, by Jitte performed well, Enoeda is the one to watch. " _ .... _...,.;...... T".'I ...... ,...... , Japanese music, in total darkness with just a spotlight on him, which he often performed at the KUGB National Championships each year, was like taking a trip back in time to the days of the samurai; it was quite simply, magnificent, beautiful, pure theatre, like a work of art. When asked about this special kata he stated ... "This was devised from various moves from different kata which show the true feeling of Karate-do. The music was written especially with this in mind and through the music and the kata, I try to show the special fighting spirit of the Samurai warrior." You can see this demonstration Kata on the video available from Tiger Corp, 'Beginner To Black Belt - The Master Text' and on KUGB footage available from Kamae International. Regarding technique, Sensei Enoeda said.... "Technical points are not enough on their own. It is important to understand the 'philosophy' behind it." I hope you have enjoyed this special memorial tribute to a truly great karate master, who has without doubt been one of the most influential, inspirational Shotokan instructors ever.This is a tribute to Enoeda sensei's KARATE life, and his Frank Brennan 'feels the force'. Enoeda sensei shows his fantastic 'timing' with jodan kizami zuki. 'massive contribution' to the art. Editor. 19